Matthew 4:23
And Jesus was going about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.

Luke 9:6
And departing, they began going about among the villages, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere.

Acts 2:40-43
And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" [41] So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. [42] And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. [43] And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

Acts 5:12-15

And at the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico. [13] But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. [14] And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number; [15] to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets, and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.

Romans 15:19
in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

1 Thes. 1:5
for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

Signs and Wonders
When the gospel was preached during New Testament times, there were signs, wonders, and amazing conversions. When Jesus shared the gospel, people were healed. When the disciples shared the gospel (even prior to receiving the Holy Spirit), people were healed. When Apostle Paul and Peter shared the gospel, there were signs and wonders and people being healed.
Throughout church history there has been signs, wonders, healings, and amazing conversions when the gospel has been preached.

No Signs and Wonders
Today, especially in North America and Europe, there is very little signs, wonders, healings, and amazing conversions occurring when the gospel is preached. Some preachers of today are even against signs and wonders occurring with the preaching of the gospel. There are several reasons why there are not signs and wonders occurring during the preaching of the gospel and we will cover these in the next nugget.

We have debated if we should cover this topic in our series on "Sharing the Gospel". Some are going to strongly disagree with our position. Some may get offended. That should not stop us from sharing what we believe the Bible teaches. Our heart passion is to see people coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Because of the lack of faith (which means a lack of the power of the Holy Spirit) and false teaching, we are not seeing as many conversions as there could be. If there are Biblical principles that can help us to see more people come to Jesus as believers, we should be more than open to these principles. Lets not be like the Pharisees who were more concerned about the traditions of men than the souls of men.

Faith and Works
James 2:14-20
What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? [15] If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, [16] and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? [17] Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. [18] But someone may well say, "You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." [19] You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. [20] But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

These verses emphasis that there must be works that follow faith. Verse 20 states that faith without works is useless. We would also say that works without faith is useless. In fact, how much hope is there for salvation of a lost one without faith to believe they will be saved.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Most of us would apply this verse to the lost person who is seeking God. However, this verse could also apply to the person who is sharing the gospel to the lost person.

Our next nugget will be "Sharing the Gospel with Faith-continued".

Copyright Ó
2001 Richard D. Dover. All rights reserved.
This material can be used without written permission if it is not used to make a profit and all comments are quoted in context.http://www.inhisstepsministries.org

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations used are from the New American Standard Version (NAS).